UT regents face scrutiny over flap with president

FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 file photo, University of Texas president Bill Powers poses for a photo at the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas. Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says the Legislature should hold hearings to look into efforts to oust Powers. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Photo By Eric Gay/STF

ADVANCE FOR SUNDAY FEB. 3 AND THEREAFTER - In this Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, photo, University of Texas president Bill Powers poses for a photo at the University of Texas, in Austin, Texas. Convinced the state board was hell-bent on turning their beloved ?university of the first class? required by the Texas constitution into a downmarket trade school, faculty, students and alumni have rallied behind Powers in protest. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AUSTIN - Controversy over the relationship between embattled University of Texas PresidentWilliam Powers and the school's board of regents continued to percolate Tuesday as Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst repeated his call for an investigation by lawmakers, while the House Higher Education chairman asked for a legal briefing on whether appointed regents can be impeached or recalled.

The statements by Dewhurst and Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, came one day after an emotional show of support in the Legislature for Powers, who has been the target of sharp public criticism by several UT regents. Legislators in both the House and Senate passed resolutions Monday praising Powers' accomplishments, and berating regents for "micro-management" and "character assassination."

'Personal picking'

Branch, who sponsored a resolution in the House Monday listing Powers' accomplishments, said he had asked his staff counsel for a briefing on whether regents can be impeached or recalled. He declined to say whether the UT circumstances warranted such action, but said he was concerned that some regents were "micromanaging" the UT system and engaging in "small, personal picking at one college president."

Dewhurst, meanwhile, repeated his call for lawmakers to investigate the alleged character assassination of Powers, citing anonymous letters that have circulated among some regents that apparently question Powers' relationship with his wife, Kim Heilbrun, who graduated from the UT Law School while Powers was a professor there, according to published reports.

"There are a number of different subjects that the Senate will want to look at," Dewhurst told reporters Tuesday.

On Monday, Dewhurst became emotional while discussing Powers and what he termed character assassination by unnamed regents.

"This man deserves better … I'm really upset about this," Dewhurst said on the Senate floor. "This issue is bigger than UT-Austin or President Powers. This is about the reputation of the state of Texas."

Seliger said he did not think details of Powers' relationship with Heilbrun 30 years ago are relevant to his ability to run the university.

Powers and Heilbrun dated while both were at UT, but "she was not his student at the time, and I got that directly from him," said Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, the committee's former chair.

Terms expired Feb. 1 for three of nine UT regents appointed by Gov. Rick Perry. They will continue to serve until new appointments are made.

Seliger said if the regents are unhappy with Powers, they should act.

"They can fire him and hire somebody else, that is their responsibility," he said. "But simply making things tough, or letting allegations develop, is irresponsible. It's not a way to treat your employees, either."

UT alums of both parties have organized to support Powers, who they believe is under attack by Perry.